A moment

D has been out of sorts today. A sudden fever came on this morning and she's been sleeping on and off, too tired to run around and be her boisterous self. She hadn't eaten anything all morning. By afternoon, she was hungry and asked for dosa.

I held her close as I made the dosa, feeling cozy as she held on tight to my neck. She watched the dosa take shape, her eyes eagerly following the swirl of my hand.

She must have felt good.

She said, "You make me happy Mom."

Me: "Thank you, D."

D (in the slightly louder tone of someone who thinks Thank you is the wrong response): "You make me happy Mom."

Me: "I know D. I'm saying thank you for telling me. I want to make you happy."

D (now clearly exasperated): "But you already did!"